Public health in action: Action Lab moves fellows out of classrooms and into communities

The ACTion Lab at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health empowers students to close their books, leave their labs, and engage directly with the world around them.

To bridge academic theory with practical application, the program enables fellows to join public health initiatives in the Greater Houston area. The ACTion Lab—which stands for Advocate, Connect, and Transform—offers two fellowships annually that provide learners with the financial resources and connections to work with local organizations. Fellows gain valuable hands-on learning, and community groups benefit from the students’ hard work and unique perspectives.

“We get actual experience being the hands and feet of public health,” says Tuate White, MPH, a fellow in her third year of the Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion PhD program. “We’re used to reading books and conducting research, but this lets us see the people served by community work. It makes me think about everything differently.”

Only a few schools in the nation offer similar programs, notes Robert Hammarberg, DrPH ‘21, MPA, who co-directs the two-year-old ACTion Lab along with school alumna Kimberly Baker, DrPH ’13, MPH.

Instead of leaving fellows to individually vet the many organizations in the field, this program directly connects fellows with opportunities to gain valuable experience that will help prepare them for careers as public health experts.

For example, a partnership with the nonprofit Prevention Institute enables fellows to work on health equity projects. Fellows have helped design and produce several events with the Prevention Institute, including the Young Minds Matter conference. As part of the conference planning, they organized a research poster session where local college students presented their findings on youth mental health. Fellows also facilitated discussions between these students and advocates, educators, and other stakeholders with a vested interest in improving mental health and well-being.

“The fellows were able to create a bridge between academic and community-based work, offering a venue to share perspectives between fields that normally don’t have many opportunities for collaboration,” says Kalia Pannell, Program Coordinator at the Prevention Institute.

Current fellow Jithin Jose Kallumalickal, MBBS, credits the ACTion Lab with helping him develop skills in leadership, advocacy, community engagement, and project management.

“The fellowship has opened doors to unique networking opportunities with public health professionals and community leaders, which will be invaluable as I pursue my career goals,” says Jithin, a physician from India in his second year of the Master of Public Health program in epidemiology. “Additionally, it has given me a clearer understanding of the real-world challenges and complexities of public health practice, better preparing me for my future.”

Fellows also worked with the Houston Health Department to develop and assess equity training; produce the Beyond Boundaries podcast, which focuses on different public health issues each year; and facilitate film screenings on public health issues, bringing in experts for conversations with students at the School of Public Health and community members.

“Our students are hungry for these opportunities,” Hammarberg says. He and Baker hope to grow the popular program.

Philanthropic support will enable the ACTion Lab to provide more fellowships, offer short-term service learning opportunities, and partner with organizations throughout Texas.

“My confidence has gone through the roof from pushing myself to do new things as a fellow,” says Tuate, who feels grateful for all she is learning in the program. “Now, you can put me anywhere, and I will be the best public health practitioner I can be.”